Alum’s passion propels her from practice to policy … and back – VCU News

By Cynthia McMullen

You by no means know the place Lisa Value Stevens will land. Her in depth profession trajectory has taken her far and broad, from parking beneath bridges whereas working with the homeless to heading COVID immunization clinics for hundreds, from coordinating perioperative companies for a serious well being system to helming a twin demonstration program for Medicare and Medicaid that now could be in use nationwide.

In her newest function, as a regional chief medical officer for JenCare Senior Medical Middle in Norfolk, Virginia, Value Stevens has returned to her roots not solely as a Virginia Seaside native however as a clinician. It’s been an thrilling journey to this point.

Value Stevens’ determination to develop into a health care provider was cemented as a toddler when she watched her mom — a 1958 alumna of the Medical Faculty of Virginia’s St. Philip Faculty of Nursing — at work after which when, at age 9, Value Stevens herself helped save a younger member of the family’s life. VCU’s Well being Careers Alternative Program — a precursor to the Summer Academic Enrichment Program — helped her select to use to the VCU Faculty of Drugs.

Being a medical scholar taught Value Stevens “about why I really wished to develop into a doctor – and perseverance,” she mentioned.

From beneath the bridge to a seat on the desk

Value Stevens practiced main care in Norfolk early on however then “caught the general public well being bug.” Returning to the MCV Campus, she joined the Department of Internal Medicine, the place she was requested to direct VCU Health’s Preoperative Assessment, Communication and Education Center.

Subsequent up was a stint as medical director of The Every day Planet, a Richmond group well being heart. “These had been a few of the finest years,” Value Stevens mentioned. She was particularly within the integration of bodily and behavioral well being companies for the underserved.

Whereas there, Value Stevens and Every day Planet pharmacist Jean-Venable “Kelly” R. Goode, Pharm.D., created the Diabetes: Impression program that has been going sturdy since 2011.

“Lisa’s coronary heart and fervour for bettering affected person care are unbelievable,” mentioned Goode, who directs VCU School of Pharmacy’s community-based pharmacy residency program. “But it surely goes past that, into innovation.”

The 2 did outreach in shelters, even beneath bridges. “She simply radiates that mantra of main the place you stand,” Goode mentioned. “Getting individuals to purchase right into a mannequin is far simpler in case you are rolling up your sleeves, too.”

Inside a few years, Value Stevens was recruited as medical director for a Boston-based twin demonstration program for Medicare and Medicaid, the nation’s first. “That’s the place I began getting closely into administration, the enterprise of medication and well being care coverage,” she mentioned. “I assumed the extra I can study and have a seat on the desk, the extra I might help individuals.”

“The extra I can study and have a seat on the desk, the extra I might help individuals.”

A brand new job, a brand new pandemic

Addressing well being care disparities continues to be of main significance to Value Stevens. And now, on account of her management within the demo challenge, almost each state within the nation provides a twin program for underserved aged sufferers. That features Virginia, for whose first program Value Stevens left Boston to function chief medical officer.

Alongside the best way, she managed to earn grasp’s levels in enterprise and public well being and to have a household. “It takes a village,” she mentioned, laughing. “I’ve numerous assist.”

In 2020, having develop into considering combining her administrative expertise and well being care coverage expertise with a return to medical observe, Value Stevens got here throughout ChenMed, a value-based, coordinated care program for seniors on Medicare. She was employed as regional chief medical officer for its subsidiary JenCare facilities all through Virginia – and got here on board in February, mere weeks earlier than the coronavirus hit.

She applauds JenCare for pivoting rapidly in order to disrupt affected person service as little as potential.

Credit score goes to Value Stevens, too, mentioned Shruthi Sambamoorthy, M.D., a JenCare regional medical director. “For her to return in throughout a pandemic, for a pacesetter to be so strategic and important of their considering … that she saved the workers and sufferers secure, is a real testomony to her management.

“Everybody has a special definition,” Sambamoorthy mentioned, “however to me a pacesetter is somebody who actually has an inspiring imaginative and prescient and is ready to coach and construct a crew successfully to attain the imaginative and prescient. She does it effortlessly. Or if there may be a number of effort, it doesn’t present.”